Belle epperly



(No Model.)

B. BPPERLY.

CORSET.

No. 367,747. Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

NJRETERS, mmummmr. Mmmm/mc,

and lie immediately beneath the arm, they extending from the top edge to the lower of the corset. One of them, preferably the front one, is provided with flat brass buckles i', of such construction as not to hurt the person, and so situated as thattheperson shall be protected from them. I -have shown and prefer to use nine of these in each series; but the' number can be varied, if desired.

z' 'i are elastic straps secured to the back steels I', each opposite to a buckle i. They are readily attached -or removed, as they are fastened by inserting them into'the seam. They may be of any required length, and may be all of the same length, or those in each series may vary. By means of them adjustments can be attained at any point up or down the side of the wearer, so that the corset can be made to conform at all times to the person. v At the same time the connection is such that there shall be no inconvenience to the wearer, and the tit shall be securely preserved.

D represents a hipvgore at the side lower corner of the back piece, being constructed and shaped similarly (preferably) to the gore at D and secured in place in a similar manner.

rlhe back piece, B, like the front, is formed in two sections, b Il', united by a seam at Il, each having cording, as at L bt. At the rear edges of the back part there are steels F F', which may be'of the ordinary character, if desired. They are joined by means of sections of elastic F2rl4", separate from each other, and thereby capable of yielding independently of each other. Preferably the distance bctween the steels widens from the center upward and downward.

At 'M there is askirt-supporter, there being one on each side of the back. It is a flat brass hook pointed at the top, with an abrupt base, to prevent the skirt 'from slipping o't'f. The skirts are supported by means ot' eyelets on the skirt-band.

K represents the shoulder-V piece cnt from Y the cloth forming the section a of the front, it

extending up and backward, and is adapted to be joined to the elastic piece Lat the shoulder. These parts are so constructed as to avoid binding at the shoulder and arm.

By having the flexible gore-pieces D D at the corners of parts A and B and opposite to each other, and arranging the series of elastic straps so as to pull directly upon these gorepieees, I can not only provide for numerous adjustments, but can attain a close fit at the hips under all adjustments. The lower straps,

z', pull directly on the longitudinal lines of the coiled springs, the latter being arranged on lines inclined to the vertical edges of the gorepieces, as above described. This is the preferred arrangement, as the greatest ilexibility is thus provided; but sufiicientcan be obtained under other arrangements of the springs.

I am aware of the fact that heretofore use has been made of some of the matters which I have shown and described, such as the dress or skirt support, the flexible shoulder-Straps, gore pieces containing coiled springs, and. flexible straps below the arm, and I do not claim such matters, broadly; but I believe myself to be the first to have so arranged the parts which I have combined as to produce a corset having the advantageous features incident to the one shown and described.

Vhat I claim isd 1. In a corset, the combination, with the front part, A, andthe rear part, B, of the hipgore D, having the coiled spring at the outer lower corner of the front part, A, and the hipgore D at the opposite corner of the back part, B, and a series ol' flexible strap-andbuckle connections between said front and rear parts of the corset, the straps at the lower end of said series bei ng'arranged, as set forth, to pull directly on said gore-pieces, substantially as described.

2. In a corset, the combination ofthe front side part, A, the rear side part, B, the front gore-piece, E, tapered to a point, containing a coiled spring, the hip-gore piece D' at the outer lower corner of the front part, A, containing` a coiled spring, the hipgore piece D', containing a coiled spring at the opposite cor'l ner of the rear part, B, the said side gorespringshavingtheirlongitudinallinesinclined to the vertical edges of the gore-pieces, and the separately-adjustable flexible bands connecting the front and rear parts, A B, substantially'as set forth.

8. In a corset, the front side pieces, A, each having at its rear lower corner the hip-gore D, provided with a'eoiled spring, arranged,

substantially as set forth, to have the longitudinal lines thereof inclined to the vertical edges of the gore, in combination with the back pieces, B, flexibly connected to the front pieces, A, and tothe said hip-gores, substanA tially as described.

4. In a corset, the con'lbination of the front side piece having a steel at the front edge extending but part way up the corset, the but ton above the steel, the opposite front side piece having a steel at the edge and a flap to engage-with the aforesaid button, and the supplemental steel situated behind the clasps, su bstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix luy signature in presence of two witnesses.

BELLE EPPEBLY.

Titnessesz E. C. GoULD, H. C. TIMMONDS. 

